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The Pentagon s decision to extend the National Guard deployment of 2,300 troops at the U.S. Capitol until May 23 to protect against an unknown threat is prompting outrage and concern from critics.
The Guard has been positioned around the legislative hall since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was carried out by some of former President Donald Trump s supporters, but officials have refused to explain what they call an ongoing threat from right-wing militia groups. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday night approved a U.S. Capitol Police request to extend the Guard deployment, prompting howls from conservatives as the riot and response have become a political hot button.
National Guard well trained and well equipped ahead of possible QAnon-pushed March 4 conspiracy protests washingtonexaminer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonexaminer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Snowy, freezing conditions, and a dearth of protesters across the capital region are not enough reason to reduce the National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., which currently stands at 6,000 troops from 30 states and U.S. territories following the riot on Jan. 6.
“The mission is to go through mid-March as planned,” D.C. National Guard spokesman, Capt. Tinashe Machona told the
Washington Examiner on Friday. “We are not aware of any changes to that plan.”
The Guard is scheduled to draw down March 14 with a total expected price tag of $483 billion for the overall operation.
“There is no plan to extend that mission at this time,” Machona said.
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The D.C. National Guard is paying nearly double the going rate in order to house hundreds of troops in high-end Georgetown who are deployed to Washington after the Capitol riot. That placement puts some of them 4 miles closer to the legislative hall than comparable suburban hotels costing 40% less.
Guard members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California have been staying at four Georgetown hotels since late January and early February, the
Washington Examiner confirmed Tuesday by speaking to Guard members and hotel staff in English- and Spanish-language interviews.
Guard members were also observed entering and exiting three of the four hotels, and they confirmed they were staying there.
HEADLINES & GLOBAL NEWS
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Jan 25, 2021 05:20 AM EST
Leaders of the National Guard disputed the reports of guard members turning their backs on the presidential motorcade. Some claim it was disrespect, but there were relevant explanations for it.
The last election in 2020 left a mark on America, and allegiances are indeterminable when it comes to military service. The same goes for the Guard, who are considered professional civilian soldiers who must follow the rules, like saluting to the commander in chief.
On inauguration day, some alleged claims were troops intentionally faced away from the passing presidential entourage. When it made symbolic rounds in D.C. an abnormal behavior was spotted, reported The Epoch Times.